Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Reveals 2026 Locations and Initial Lineup

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival has announced its 2026 schedule and first round of performers, unveiling an expanded lineup that includes some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy.

Credit: Great Outdoors Comedy Festival

Initially launched in Edmonton in 2021 as a COVID-safe event, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival has steadily expanded, adding new cities across Canada and the U.S. The event combines national headliners with local performers, food trucks, and entertainment, creating an open-air festival atmosphere centred on laughter and community.

The outdoor festival will return to Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, Vancouver, and Spokane, Washington next summer.

The 2026 tour will begin in Edmonton’s Kinsmen Park and Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park from July 17–19, followed by Halifax’s Garrison Grounds from August 6–9. It will then move west to Prince’s Island Park in Calgary from August 28–30, One Spokane Stadium from August 29–30, and Stanley Park in Vancouver from August 28–30.

This year’s lineup is led by Matt Rife & Friends, performing multiple nights across the tour. Rife has become one of the most recognizable names in global comedy, earning over 39.4 million followers and more than 3 billion views on social media.

Nikki Glaser will headline in Halifax on August 9, following a milestone year in her career. Glaser became the first woman to host the Golden Globe Awards solo in 2025, receiving widespread praise for her performance. She was also named Comedian of the Year by The New York Times and featured on TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 list.

Joining the lineup are Fortune Feimster, a veteran comedian known for her storytelling and inclusive humour, and Steph Tolev, a Vulture-recognized performer featured on the Netflix special Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill.

Presale tickets will be available on Thursday, October 16 at 10 a.m. MST, with general sales starting Friday, October 17 at 10 a.m. MST.